Former Opposition leader Wayne Furbert has withdrawn from the United Bermuda Party caucus and has called for the party to disband to avoid more election defeats and a further hardening of the racial divide.

He said things were only going to get worse for the UBP, which remains split, but the public wanted a new group to challenge the PLP.

Mr. Furbert said a new party was worthwhile even if it lost the next two elections but helped remove the racial tension in the community.

He told The Royal Gazette: "That is all that is stopping our progress to move this country forward. But we are too busy on both sides trying to score political points while we have our young men dying on the roads or dying through murder.

"We are fighting amongst ourselves and not fighting for health care and education and those things that are going to make Bermuda better."

He said it was totally wrong for up to 90 percent of whites to be supporting the UBP and up to 85 percent of blacks supporting the PLP.

"When are we ever going to come together? And do you know something — both parties like that during an election.

"It is to our advantage to continue that division but it is wrong. It has to be wrong.

"It is time for blacks and whites to vote on issues and not vote for parties because of traditions of what your grandpa or grandma brought you up on.

"And if it takes the United Bermuda Party to dissolve and another group to come forward whose ideology is for a better Bermuda, one Bermuda, although the UBP stands for that, but if it doesn't have the same baggage as the United Bermuda Party, then I believe it is worth it for the country.

"That's why I ask, how can we have a vision but we cannot see what's best for the country?"

He said he had fought in UBP caucus for this. "And some of my friends don't like what I am saying. They will probably be mad when I say this but I have removed myself from caucus for a while because somebody said to me 'if you don't like it' — they weren't talking directly to me but I think they were referring to me — 'then you can leave'.

"Well, I took that personally so I have personally removed myself for a while.

"If I am the elephant in the room stopping them what they've got to do — well now I am taking a breather and they can take a breather.

"And I can reflect on where I go from here.

"I truly believe they all want a better Bermuda but they are so locked into tradition and legacy that they cannot see."

After the election, which saw the UBP again stuck on 14 seats to the PLP's 22, a group of UBP MPs argued for the UBP to disband but they remained in a minority and lacked critical mass to become the Official Opposition.

Asked what was stopping him from taking a final step by forming a new party, Mr. Furbert said he wanted to give his colleagues a chance to look at the options.

"And a group has been formed, or will be formed to do that. But I honestly don't believe they can come up with anything new, other than some amendments to the constitution.

"But what I am saying to them is, I may be wrong but I am hearing it from the public, who are saying the United Bermuda Party needs to go. I am saying I may be wrong — but at least test the market.

"If the market says it's time to lay down your arms and put up your flag there may be a group that comes out of the ashes. We do need a strong Opposition but we have three or four years to try to put something together."

Some UBP insiders are afraid of handing Ewart Brown his publicly declared wish — the destruction of the United Bermuda Party.

"He may be able to brag that he took out the United Bermuda Party. But did he really? Are we doing what's good for the country? If what's best for the country is for the UBP to disappear then so be it.

"His view was to take them out via an election — not by our own initiative.

"I believe if Sir Henry Tucker was living now he would say 'Fellows, we must do what's right for the country'."

Mr. Furbert said the UBP's own research was saying its time was up.

"We have done focus groups — they say it's time to go."

He realises his public stance will upset colleagues. "I can hear the phone ringing now.

"But this is the price we pay for a better Bermuda. I may be coming forward and revealing things I shouldn't reveal but I believe in coming forward because I believe in what's right for Bermuda, even when I was leader.

"Maybe that's why I got taken out."

He said he couldn't think of a single marginal seat the PLP could lose if an election was called in the next two or three years.

"But I can point at three of ours — the leader himself, Donte Hunt and Lord help me and I hate to say this, but Bob Richards.

"When a man goes from 200 something votes down to 25 somebody has to ask the question, 'what happened?'"

Without change or a viable alternative a lifetime in Opposition was looming, said Mr. Furbert who said the white vote, which the UBP, relied upon was shrinking.

"We will never get in. But for the good of the country, we need to step back."

Asked for his reaction last night party leader Kim Swan said he was unaware Mr. Furbert had left the caucus.

"I certainly hope that is not the case. He is an invaluable member of our team," said Mr. Swan.

UBP MP Mark Pettingill said he had the greatest respect for Mr. Furbert who had the best interests of the country at heart.

He added: "I am also going through a period of reflection as to what I can do in the best interests of the country."